Wireless charging is a nifty technology that lets
you charge your phone by placing it on top of a charging pad or stand. No more pesky wires
that get tangled up and cables that fray into uselessness. With wireless
charging, there’s one less cable to add to the clutter in your desk or bag.

It would be nice if built-in wireless charging
was a universal feature in smartphones. Unfortunately, this may still be years
into the future.
For now, wireless charging support is still mainly
found in high-end phones.

If you’re interested in wireless charging, ahead
is a list of some of the best smartphones that offer the feature. We also have
a list of the mobile
phones that you can charge using a wireless charging
adapter.

But first, what is wireless charging and how does
it work?

What is
wireless charging?

Wireless charging uses an electromagnetic field
to charge your device over short distances without the need for cables. It lets
you re-up your battery faster and easier.

With no cables, it’s also neater and more
convenient. There’s no need to keep plugging and unplugging your charger, which
makes it safer.

Wireless charging is typically available in
premium smartphones with glass backs. While some phones have wireless charging built-in, some need a replacement case or rear cover so you can
charge them wirelessly. If there are no special cases or covers for your
device, you can buy a universal adapter that supports wireless charging.

The most popular standard for wireless charging
is Qi, which is supported by all of the big smartphone manufacturers. Samsung
has been releasing handheld devices that are Qi-compatible for many years. In
the last couple of years, Apple has done the same with its latest iPhone
models. In addition to making phones with built-in wireless charging, Samsung
offers a wide range of wireless chargers that are compatible with any
Qi-enabled phone.

Though wireless charging has many perks, it does
also have a few drawbacks. For one thing, it takes longer to charge a device
wirelessly than to use a traditional wired charger. Wireless charging also
makes it difficult to use your device while charging.

It’s also more expensive than wired charging. The
only mobile
devices that have wireless charging built-in are the latest and most high-end ones. If you want to
charge an older device wirelessly, you'll have to spend money on a wireless
charging adapter or accessory that will let you use the phone with a wireless
charging pad.

iOS phones
that support wireless charging

iPhone XS and iPhone XS
MAX

The latest iPhones support Qi wireless charging
but do not come with a wireless charger. In 2017, Apple unveiled the AirPower,
its wireless charging pad. But the company has yet to make it available, so if you own one
of the latest Qi-enabled iPhones, you’ll have to buy a non-Apple wireless charger.

These are some of the best wireless
charging-capable smartphones on the market today. These phones support fast
wireless charging through the Pixel Stand. The stand lets the Pixel 3
automatically go into Do Not Disturb mode at night.

LG G7 and V40 ThinQ

All variants of LG’s 2018 flagship phones are
capable of wireless charging.

Sony Xperia XZ3

Sony’s most impressive smartphone to date
supports wireless charging. Sony has a wireless charging dock that lets you
fast-charge its
Xperia handsets in either a horizontal or a vertical
position. The versatile dock lets you watch videos as you charge and has an output of up to 9W. It has heat control and lights
that tell you when your phone is in the best position for optimal charging.

Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20
Pro

Both of these handsets support 15W wireless
charging, but the Mate 20 Pro takes it a step further. You can wirelessly
charge any Qi-compatible mobile device
by placing it on the back of the Mate 20 Pro.

Motorola Moto Z3 Play (with
Moto Mod)

The Moto Z3 Play doesn’t have built-in wireless
charging. You have to attach the magnetic Moto Mod to the back of the phone if
you want to charge it wirelessly.

These other Android phones also have wireless
charging support:

LG V30

LG G6

LG G4

LG G3

Nokia 8 Sirocco

Google
Nexus 4

Google
Nexus 5

Google
Nexus 6

Google
Nexus 7

Microsoft
Lumia 1520

Microsoft
Lumia 1020

Microsoft
Lumia 930

Microsoft
Lumia 929

Microsoft
Lumia 928

Microsoft
Lumia 920

Blackberry
Priv

Phones that
need wireless charging accessories and adapters

These phones don’t have built-in wireless
charging but can be charged using a wireless charging pad.

iPhone 7

iPhone 7
Plus

iPhone 6s

iPhone 6s
Plus

iPhone 5s

iPhone SE

Samsung
Galaxy S5

Samsung
Galaxy S4

Samsung
Galaxy S3

Samsung
Galaxy Note 3

Samsung
Galaxy Note 2

Microsoft
Lumia 925

Microsoft
Lumia 830

Wireless
chargers

Once you have determined that your phone has
built-in wireless charging support or can be wirelessly charged with the help
of an adapter or accessory, you will need to buy a wireless charging pad. These
come in a wide assortment of shapes, styles, sizes, and colors. There are Qi wireless chargers for your desk and your car. There are also portable
Qi-enabled battery packs.

And there you have it. These are currently some
of the best mobile phones with wireless charging support. There are also great
options that don’t have built-in wireless charging but can be charged
wirelessly with the right accessories.